I See You

Series

Our preaching series is “The Life of Jesus for Us.”

During this season after Christmas we are seeing how Jesus, the Son of God shows us his life-giving power. He overcomes four traditionally identified blocks to spiritual growth: self, the world, evil, and death.

This week our theme is how Jesus overcomes the blocks we carry within us.

First Reading

Psalm 139:1–6 ESV

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139:13–18 ESV

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Second Reading

Our text comes from the first chapter of the Gospel of John.

Jesus is beginning his ministry. Jesus has just been baptized. He showed his solidarity with sinners. The Father identified him as his Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit alighted upon him.

He calls his first disciples.

John 1:43–51 (ESV)

The next day Jesus decided to go (JRH: from Judea in the south) to Galilee (JRH: in the north). He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida (north), the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth (JRH:north), the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

INTRODUCTION

Example: Blockage. Traffic on Granada. Road work being done. Confusing, incomplete roads up north: (“West Penn, you can’t get there from here.”)

O that spiritual path were just a straight shot, easy highway.

Blocks. Blocks within us. in the Self:

Doubts. Let downs. Bible or church is confusing.

I want to get close to God…but I can’t get there from here…

Jesus’ call of Nathanael is good news.

EXEGESIS 1: Nathanael has blocks

We know next to nothing about Nathanael. But some things can be discerned from story we are reading today.

First: he was eager for the Messiah to appear.

Philip is clearly excited about the news he is bringing to Nathanael.

Philip finds Nathanael and reports: “We have (finally) found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

Son of God not yet on the table. Even though stated at Baptism. Philip did not hear it.

Philip goes to Nathaniel. You want to hear this.

We take news to those whom we think will be interested and excited about it along with us.

EG: I purchased the whole series of NCIS for $20! To Dao likes that series.

Philip knew Nathanael was waiting for Messiah, just like himself. So, Nathanael was a spiritual person, passionate person.

Second: Nathanael valued the Scriptures.

Philip leads with. “The one of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote.”

Nathanael knew the Scriptures well. Maybe a surprise to Philip, a block emerges.

The Messiah doesn’t come from Nazareth.

Micah 5:2: O Bethlehem of Judah, ...from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Wisemen at Christmas. Where can we find the one who has been born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star. The rabbis said, you must look in Bethlehem.

Nathanael recognizes a discrepancy between Philips proclamation - Jesus from Nazareth and the biblical prophecy “from Bethlehem”.

Aside: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but was raised in Galilee of Nazareth, and that is what Philip knew of his origin at the time of our story.

Lastly: Nathanael was a product of his local culture. He didn’t think much of Galilee. Few in the south did. Galilee was populated by many gentiles and pagans. Isaiah (ch. 9) called Galilee, “Galilee of the Gentiles” of the lost, the godless.

So Nathanael’s response, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth….”

We have here a spiritually passionate person, but who based on limited information and his (negative) conceptions, had blocks in place. He could choose to investigate Jesus or dismiss him.

APPLICATION 1: We have blocks

Does Nathanael sound like anyone we know? Sounds like US!

On spiritual level: we want to grow in relationship with God through Christ. Yet..

Spiritual blocks:

I don’t understand the Bible

Church people have hurt me

Prayers have gone unanswered.

Everyone seems to be excited and worshipping, but I don’t feel that way?

Our spirits say, “really, can anything really good happen?”

The invitation is to come and see.

In some way we are all doing that by being here, physically. We want to do that inwardly.

Jesus, I have my blocks in my mind and spirit: help me to come to you.

EXEGESIS 2: Jesus sees Nathanael

Philip doesn’t argue the point: he just says, come and see. As if to say, come and meet the man. Hear him, see him, and you will know for yourself.

That is what Nathanael chooses to do. Nathanael takes the opportunity and goes to meet Jesus.

As Nathanael approaches Jesus says, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

“Guile” No duplicity.

An Israelite the calls it like he sees it.

Jesus reads the hearts and is

on the one hand: commending Nathanaels urgency for truth and his integrity to come meet Jesus for himself.

on the other hand, perhaps in the tone…identifying how Nathanael is doubtful of the situation, perhaps resistant, biased against Jesus because of his humble origins.

Nathanael, responds: How do you know me? To suggest that? I didn’t say anything bad about you…

Jesus answers, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

Probably just a fig tree.

But also the fig tree: symbol of resistance to God.

Tree of knowledge and fig leaves

Matthew, Mark, Luke, record parables told by Jesus about fig trees that are withered/uprooted because they did not produce fruit.

Before you got here. I saw you. I heard you.

I know you supernaturally.

Psalm 139 tie-in. Before a thought or a word, you know me already.

Jesus says, I see you, I get you, I can handle your questions, concerns, etc. Not threatened by them.

on an earthly level, he was used to conversing with the elders of Israel from a young age. He is ready for Nathanael’s questions.

on a spiritual level, I am the Son of God, that has been told me. You will see it too. God is pleased in me. Secure for you.

APPLICATION 2: Jesus understands our block

A man I knew said that he got kicked out of Sunday School for asking tough questions. I would always raise my hand.

Where did Cain get his wife?

Laughing. But a real block — God doesn’t take questions— doesn’t tolerate doubts.

Jesus does not push away people with genuine questions and concerns and blocks.

He identifies sees the block. But he focuses on the good. You are seeking. And he offers security, I can handle it.

He wants us to grow. Jesus wants us to know him. Came to Galilee. Came into the world. Comes in out particular world, so that we can know him.

EX: Psychotherapist: “I just try to help people get past what is blocking them. Want to grow, but things in the way.”

He is gentle with us with the real, deep questions we have:

What about this sorrow? This question? This doesn’t make sense?

He says, I already know…I see you.

St. Augustine: In order for us to see, we have been seen; in order for us to love, we have been loved -- Elowsky, J. C. (2006).

EXEGESIS 3: Jesus promises Nathanael a way ahead

Nathanael’s heart is impacted.

Nathanael exclaims you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.

The first affirmation from a disciple. He could not have known what all that implies.

Jesus sees him, he begins to see Jesus. Being known results in knowing.

Jesus does not deny the ascription. But he does check Nathanael.

Because of that little revelation you believe? Well, you’ve not seen anything yet.

Jesus says You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

An allusion again to patriarch Jacob, Genesis 28. Jacob saw a vision of a ladder between heaven and earth, with angels going up and down on it. Exclaimed, surely God is in the place and I knew it not! He named that place Bethel, House of God.

Jesus is the Ladder of God — connecting heaven and earth. God here and Nathanael didn’t know it.

The Heavens open for Jesus - when born, when transfigured, when ascends.

The angels attend him: at birth, at baptism, at temptation, at garden of gethsemane, at resurrection.

You are right, and yet you know not the half of it yet, but you will.

Next time Nathanael specifically named in John’s Gospel at the end in ch. 21.

The resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples while they are fishing. He fixes them breakfast.

None of them asked who he was, because they all knew it was the Lord.

APPLICATION 3: Jesus heals our block

At some point in life we acknowledged Jesus as Savior and Lord.

We were right about him the moment we did that. Yet if that were all there was too it, wouldn’t we have stopped coming to church at that point?

But instead we get drawn deeper and deeper in.

People go to church for their whole lives. Listen to sermons their whole lives.

25/yr (10 years - 250, 20=500, 30=750, 40=1000)

Why keep coming to church?

Jesus says, you are right, but you haven’t yet seen it all.

We are right at first: He is Lord and He is Savior

But what that means when you are a

child, teenager is different than what it means in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s,...

As we walk with him through life we see heaven opened from time to time, he connects to heaven.

There when navigating school, friendships, and first loves

There when working on career

There in your marriage

There in your kid raising

Parenting

Caring for parents

Financial straights

There when physical, emotional, problems

During age

During grief,

During years of wisdom

He PROMISES, I will never leave you or forsake you, He will be there at every stage, always will reveal more of himself.

Coming to faith in Christ is not the end of the spiritual journey, it is just the beginning.

In Christ the depth of the wisdom and truth of God.

Takes time and experience to truly come to know him

Like Nathanael, a long time since first affirmation and final knowledge, but Jesus promises we will get there if we walk with him.

When WE are resurrected (in parallel to his resurrection) then we will see him as he is. We will know him as we are already known.

At that time it will be a meal too. Like the breakfast made. This time a dinner feast. Marking the conclusion of the Day of the Lord.

CONCLUSION

We all have blocks.

I can’t get there from here.

Jesus comes to us. I see you.

I understand.

I promise you will see me.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Let us pray for all the earth, the church, and all those in need, saying, God of grace, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the world: for leaders of nations, that wisdom and integrity will prevail for the good of all people, especially the poor; for regions torn by conflict, that peace may reign and living become an enterprise of construction rather than destruction; God of grace, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all people of faith: for the unity of the body of Christ, that divisions might not turn people away from the church; for Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews, that wherever prayers are raised up, the one God of all will hear; for all people who nurture life in the name of a greater good; God of grace, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our own nation: for the president and Congress, the Supreme Court and all judges, for state governments, city councils, school boards, and all who have power to make policy, that all consideration be given to what is most healthy for people and creatures; God of grace, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those in need:for all who are hungry in our nation and world, for those who have no home and no employment, for those who are either unjustly or justly imprisoned, for parents and children who live in fear for any reason, and for all who are in mourning; God of grace, hear our prayer.

For all other concerns of this assembly now spoken aloud or silently, … [A time of silence is kept.] God of grace, hear our prayer.

With thanksgiving, we remember all those who have shaped us in your ways, O God. Receive our prayers and grant whatever you see that your people need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.